suexec checkbox gone w/upgrades but stuck in database

we allowed suexec {SUEXEC} in vhost master for all sites. much time passed. did a cgi recently which failed. commented out suexec. did an alt restart but if ispc restarts it, the SuexecUserGroup will come back oncommented and we'll get a feature halt until #!
what i am prepared to do is to go TABLE DIVING. but i dont have a schemetic. any ... any suggestions are welcome. any.